President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who begins his second five-year term next month, may create new ministerial posts to accelerate development of the natural resources sector, government sources said. The country has some of the world’s largest deposits of natural gas, nickel, copper, tin and coal, while it is the world’s biggest palm oil producer and second-biggest rubber producer.

The Indonesian Importers Association (Ginsi) has urged the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) to audit the customs office, which received Rp 5.42 trillion ($542 million) worth of revenue from importers. "The customs office has made a lot of money from blackmailing importers," Ginsi chairman Amirudin Saud said, as quoted by Antara on Tuesday. He claimed the custom fees charged by the office were opaque and decisions made concerning the fees were one-sided.

The country is unlikely to complete final regulations attached to a new mining and coal law this year, an official said on Monday, creating more uncertainty for a sector struggling to attract investment. The government has been drafting regulations on the new mining and coal law passed in December 2008 for presidential approval. It had said the regulations should be issued by October, when President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s new administration is due to start his second term.